What's wrong with this picture??

[speedyblue]

After a careful drive with something strange definately going on, and after about half an hour plus of bashing with a rubber mallet, I got the drum off to find the problem. My drum brake linings had disintergrated. I have never replaced these things whilst i have had the car (8 years) and they still had plenty of meat on them, but it seems they have just bit the dust. So I guess it's time to replace them now... :tapemouth

It stuffed the drum lining as well, so I'll have to get that machined too. Gee these cars are a money pit, that like the 4th thing I've had to fix in 8 years. but at least I got home safe. That could have been bad.

[Gav240z]

Yeah imho drums are a royal pain in the butt. I hate them so much adjusting and mucking about. I think the wheel cylinders on mine are bad cause I've adjusted them so many times and there either not gripping enough for the handbrake or they bite too much when i'm on the brakes. I think I'll be going with the rear disc conversion that's for sure.

[LanceM]

The very reason I always get rivited linings instead of bonded ones, I've had the bonded ones come off like that and what a mess they can make.

[240ZX]

And people wonder why we do the rear disc conversion!!!

[wantin]

An easy way to remove rear brake drums without damaging them is to jack up one side. Block the other side well. Remove the wheel that is in the air, but replace the lug nuts on to the studs part way. Now the tricky part. Start the car, release clutch slowly while pulling up on the handbrake. Note: This will result in dangerous forward motion if posi-track equipped. The heat induced in the drum while turning will expand it enough to slowly work its way off the rusty hub and will stop at the lug nuts if you remembered to put them back on. If not, the wheel cylinder pistons and shoes will remove themselves automatically.

[speedyblue]

I prefer the use of Inox and a rubber mallet on the outside face of the drum. Cocks it off the axle and pushes it off. Not too hard.

Dropped the drum in today. $15 to get it machined and about $50 for a new set of shoes. The brake guy wants me to bring in the other drum too, so he can radius the shoes to match the drum. Sounds like a smart move to me. Don't skimp on the brakes.

I have a set of calipers and discs from a 83 280zx waiting to go on, but I've never found a set of caliper brackets, so I'm still stuck with the drums.

[bemmerguy714]

And people wonder why we do the rear disc conversion!!!

Seriously huh. I want to do that. But that hammer is probobly the "offical Datsun Tool" for the brakes.

[wantin]

The hammer is the tool most used. This was something we devised while racing datsuns in the early seventies to save time. I forgot to say, use oven mits or lots of shop rags to remove drum. We never had one warp or the aluminun fins distort.